Concentration

Today my research was discussing the unrealistic expectations that pre-service teachers sometimes set for children. The example they used was expecting 1st and 2nd graders to be engaged in work for a long while. Common knowledge is that they flit from thing to thing and have short attention spans. This caught my attention because Montessori expects the exact opposite of its students. In fact, elementary classrooms have 3 hour work periods in the morning where students choose their work and go to it. She believed that students could be taught to concentrate deeply if given the right atmosphere and properly engaging objects. She basically talked about Flow before the term became a buzzword.

Tonight before bed we finally let little man do his own thing (after running lots of errands today). He is only 14 months old but he already has the idea of flow. He spent about 20 minutes just playing with two of his shape puzzle pieces - he wasn't even trying to put them in the puzzle. He was banging them on things - putting them up high and down low and generally just checking them out. He took a short break and then went back to it for about another 10 minutes. I am not sure if this is normal or not. I will say that at least once a day he will get lost in his play for about 30 to 45 minutes. He will pull out all his books or empty his kitchen cabinet and just see how everything works. If a 14 month old can do it - I expect with encouragement and the right atmosphere older kids can do it.

This again points out the difference between the education I think my child will most enjoy and benefit from and the choppy, line up, sit down, read aloud education that has to be given through the public school. There really isn't any other way for a public school to function - but I'm not sure that's the best way for my son to learn.

It's been interesting to watch the coop class I am leading. I think the kids are so used to trying to "get through" everything and just recently they started realizing that they can sit and enjoy working with one item. One of the kids that we all sort of expected might struggle with this has really taken to it. He spent a good 15 minutes with the pink tower - building, unbuilding, comparing sizes, etc. He spent another 15 minutes pouring beans. I think he liked the noise and the feel - but that's the point. This kind of work engenders a love for learning because it allows students to explore for themselves - not constantly being told what to think about whatever they are working with. This is a HUGE change for me - but I like it.

I have to say I have been lost in a few projects recently and that's why I haven't posted. The research is interesting - I love to research! Another time I'll talk more about what I'm learning.